Bounding

I had a hint of a headache, but that was okay.

I felt light, lighter than the little pigeon's feather that keeps floating for hours before landing on the road to be found and picked up with joy, like a treasure, by some kid by the side of the street.

Was it the weather? It was a blindingly bright day with the sun straight over the head and yet it was pleasant. I wondered if the giant icebergs have finally arrived in the city carving up their way, splitting open the annoyingly busy roads, toppling the cars and buses all the way. I was smiling for no reason.

But that was only the least of the strangest things that was happening around today.

The angry guy at the tea shop wasn't his usual self. He didn't pour the skin-burning, boiling water on me but continued to talk merrily with those guys, laughing so loud that filled their hearts and overflowed on their faces. Such a happy, magical sound, it was! I think I was happy for him.

Bounding and bounding around, I went off to explore those quiet streets. Oh! how I had always wanted to go around with no fear of entering any gate or sleeping in any cool shadow without being startled to wake up by some by-stander who enjoys throwing stones at me. I never understood their cackles when they hit the target and see me run amok, yelping in pain, fearing that the sky was falling on my head. Oh, the slight headache was still bothering me.

I thought I noticed that the people in this city are really pretty when they were talking to each other and wearing a happy face all the while. May be that's what was filling me up with energy that I didn't feel a bit tired.

I've been on these straights for years but I had never been allowed to come closer those kids playing by the side of the street. They are adorable and very different from the grown-ones. One minute they will be jumping and singing and the next they'll be fighting and howling but within another minute they would be back to singing and dancing together. Would these adults have been kinder to me if they were also able to forget their anger and despair and celebrate life like these kids do? May be, as they get old and wise their hearts becomes cold and less nice.

*Yaaaawn!!!*

How I would have liked to sleep then! Though I was not tired, I loved to enjoy a really good and peaceful nap.

Why did I feel so free today? Is this freedom? How did I find it? Or, did it find me?

Oh, wait! what did I see over there?

Why was that one sleeping in the middle of the road, unafraid of the cars?

What a sheer coincidence! That one's tail was also all brown, with a few open patches showing the skin where the hair has fallen off!

I went closer to see how could anyone sleep so calmly in the middle of a busy road.

Oh, well, that explained my headache.

When your head has been smashed, headache is nothing to complain about.

Is this freedom?

Bounding around the streets with no fear. Sleeping anywhere with no worries in the world. Standing in the middle of a circle of kids singing and dancing and going round and around, without them running away or me getting chased away.

I asked again, is this freedom?

And then I started to ask why it didn't come sooner? Why have I been living a prolonged life that delayed the sweetness of this freedom?

Would I have enjoyed this freedom if I had not lived a life that has denied me that throughout?

Not wanting to find answers to my own questions, I thank the shiny car for granting me this freedom. The car, as red as my blood that's drying on the dirt of these streets. The car, that never stopped. The car, that never showed a hint of regret or remorse. The car that was on its way to free a few more miserable creatures.